In this tour, we will experience the Russian winter at its beauty. We will ski on the snow-covered bays of the endless Onego lake and across its islands to see old Karelian villages and beautiful wooden chapels carefully hidden by winter in the snow. In the evening, after a day of skiing in the fresh air, we will enjoy the coziness of local guesthouses and the heat of Russian banya.
Tour type: cross-country skiing (flatland, with snowmobile support for luggage transportation)
Length: 131 km in 6 days
Special requirements: good physical fitness, previous skiing experience, own outfit for winter activities. We strongly recommend bringing your own skiing equipment for your own comfort.
Arrival/departure: from St Petersburg by night train 658/659, from Moscow by night train 17/18
Day 1
For those traveling from St Petersburg: 6.50 – arrival in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia, meeting at the railway station by a local English-speaking guide (sign RussiaDiscovery). Breakfast in a local café and free time in the city to wait for other tour participants who arrive from Moscow. For those traveling from Moscow: 09.00 - arrival in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia, meeting at the railway station by a local English-speaking guide (sign RussiaDiscovery). Breakfast in a local café where the other tour participants, who arrived from St Petersburg, are waiting for you.
Transfer to the starting point of our itinerary – Gorka village (85 km, appr 1 hr). Outfitting and safety briefing. Start the skiing itinerary from Gorka village on the Onego lake, the 2nd largest lake in Europe, to Yuzhny Dvor village. Stop in Yuzhny Dvor village to see the wooden church of St Nicholas (18th century) with its belfry towering above the lake, and continue to Velikaya Guba settlement. Lunch as a light field snack on the way.
Arrive in the evening in Velikaya Guba settlement in time for dinner. Overnight in the guesthouse (in simple rooms for 2, 3 and 4 persons).
Day skiing distance: 29 km
Day 2
After breakfast, set off skiing further from Velikaya Guba, past Vigovo village and Eglov island where every house faces the chapel of Joy of All Those Grieving (19th century), to Volkostrov island. On Volkostrov island, see the beautiful Peter & Paul’s chapel (18th century). Lunch as a light field snack on the way.
Dinner and banya (Russian steam sauna) in Volkostrov. Overnight in the guesthouse (in rooms for 2, 3 and 4 persons).
Day skiing distance: 21 km
Day 3
After breakfast, leave Volkostrov. Today we will visit the Kizhi island, a UNESCO Heritage site, an open air museum with an amazing creation of the XVII-XIX centuries’ masters of the Russian North – an ensemble of traditional wooden structures – unique multi-domed church, chapel, mills, barns, and peasant houses (izbas). Guided visit of Kizhi museum by ski.
Continue skiing from the Kizhi island on the lake northwards to Ust-Yandoma village and further on the shore to Tipinitsy village. Stop in Ust-Yandoma to see St George church with its belfry once upon a time serving a milestone for the local fishermen. Lunch as a light field snack on the way.
Arrive in Tipinitsy village in the evening. You will still have time to see the local Resurrection church (18th century). Dinner, banya and overnight in the guesthouse (in rooms for 2, 3, and 4 persons).
Day skiing distance: 27 km
Day 4
After breakfast, enjoy skiing from Tipinitsy village to Yandomozero. Yandomozero is an old Karelian village located on the shore of the lake bearing the same name and boasting a wonderful church of St Barbara (17th century).
Go on northwards to Markovschina village. Upon arrival in Markovschina, accommodate yourself in a simple wooden house. Dinner and overnight (in sleeping bags).
Day skiing distance: 22 km
Day 5
After breakfast, we leave Markovschina and head for Kosmozero village.
Ski further to Kosmozero guesthouse with a stop on the way at the Assumption church (18th century).
Upon arrival in Kosmozero guesthouse, enjoy the rest. Have a good Russian banya to get rid of the fatigue after the days of activity in the frosty air.
Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse in rooms for 2 and 4 persons.
Day skiing distance: 17 km.
Day 6
Today is the last day of our stay in Karelia. After breakfast, go by skis for a circular radial itinerary from Kosmozero towards Zimnyaya hill (“Winter Hill”) and Svyatukha hill (“Sacred Hill”).
After lunch, transfer to Petrozavodsk (260 km, 4 hrs). Early dinner in a local café.
For those who are leaving for Moscow: transfer to the railway station and departure by train to Moscow at 19.00
For those who are leaving for St Petersburg: free time on your own in the company of your guide in the city. Transfer to the railway station and departure by train to St Petersburg at 23.00.
Day skiing distance: 15 km
